Gold stone jewelry products and methods

ABSTRACT

An article of jewelry comprising a jewelry setting and stones, wherein the jewelry setting is made of metal; and wherein the stones are made of gold.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to articles of jewelry and methods, and more specifically to utilizing gold stone in lieu of precious and semi-precious stones commonly used in jewelry articles such as rings, wrist bands, pendants, and the like.

Jewelry has been used by humans for thousands of years primarily for personal adornment, being worn on the body or clothing, including rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and the like. Commonly, jewelry is made of precious metals, such as gold, platinum, and silver, combined with precious stones, including diamond, emerald, ruby, pearl, sapphire, and semi-precious stones—such as the jade, topaz, amethyst, and opal.

Despite their widespread use, there are various drawbacks associated with use of stones in jewelry.

First, is the loss associated with stone cutting. It is no secret that natural stones are not found in nature in the form, size and cut that will ultimately be used in articles of jewelry. Natural gemstones are rough, uncut, and unpolished. The process of cutting and polishing involves significant loss of the stone. For example, cutting and polishing of a diamond crystal results in an approximate loss of weight of the original diamond crystal, approximating 50%.

This inevitable loss of material during the cutting and polishing process often requires compromises, forcing cutters to accept a lower level of symmetry and proportions in order to preserve the weight.

Another concern with use of gemstones in jewelry is the adverse environmental impact of mining of gemstones, including, land degradation, impact on wildlife and biodiversity, water spills, and floods, disposal of chemicals used in gemstone creation process including cutting, polishing and making.

Yet another drawback associated with use of gemstones on articles of jewelry is the challenge associated with mounting and securing the stone on the jewelry setting. For example, prong setting, the most popular type of mounting techniques, suffers from drawbacks in that the stone is prone to become loose and potentially fall out.

Still another drawback associated with use of gemstones on articles of jewelry is the challenge associated with or scratching, chipping, or breaking associated with contact with external surfaces and from movement against the metal enclosures, as well as discoloration and fading associated with exposure to air and external material and chemicals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an aspect of the present disclosure, products and methods are described that provide for articles of jewelry where gemstones in various shapes and sizes used with jewelry settings are replaced by gold stones that are cut in the same sizes and shapes as the gemstones used in their counterpart articles of jewelry that include gemstones.

The present disclosure outlines the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described below. A person of ordinary skill in the field of the invention would appreciate that this disclosure may be a basis for modifying or designing other articles and structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. Persons of ordinary skill in the field of the invention would appreciate that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the teachings of the disclosure as set forth in the claims.

Features and aspects of the present invention, both as to the disclosed products and methods of combination, together with further purposes and advantages, will be better understood when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the figures are provided for the purposes of illustration and description only and is not as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a jewelry article in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a jewelry article in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT

The detailed description provided below, as well as the drawings, are intended as a description of certain embodiments of the present invention and limiting as to the various configurations, in which the described concepts may be practiced.

Definitions

Certain definitions commonly used in jewelry parlance are provided below. The following definitions are not meant to be interpreted as exclusive definitions of the terms and phrases, or as limiting of the present disclosure:

1. Article of Jewelry: is any small object of personal adornment, for example, rings, necklaces, brooches, ear-rings, bracelets, watch-chains, pendants, tie-pins, cuff-links, and studs.

2. Cabochon: is a domed top, flat bottom stone.

3. Faceted stone: is a stone with flat, polished faces (facets) and pointed bottom.

4. Faceted top Cabochon stone: refers to a stone which has a faceted top, and a flat bottom.

5. Bail: is a loop that is used to attach a pendant or charm to a chain or bead necklace;

6. Bezel: is a part of the article of jewelry that holds the stone.

7. Jewelry setting: is the portion of the article of jewelry, usually made of metal, that is complete—except for the stone or stones. This can be any type of jewelry from a ring, a pendant, earrings, a pin, etc.

8. Shank: Refers to the circular portion of a jewelry ring, which is in touch with the wearer's finger.

9. Ring head: is the top portion of the jewelry ring, which sits on top of the shank.

10. Basket: The portion of the jewelry ring, which surrounds and contains the center stone.

11. Donut: Refers to the bottom plate of metal, which sits directly on top of the finger.

12. Gallery: is the side profile of the ring head situated between the basket and donut.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a device in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1 , article of jewelry, which is a Luisa Alexander Goldstone™ ring 100, comprises a shank 102, which is the portion of the Luisa Alexander Goldstone™ ring which is in touch with the wearer's finger, and a ring head or setting 102 that is the top portion of the Luisa Alexander Goldstone™ ring 100.

Ring head 102 includes donut 104 that is the bottom plate of the ring head 102, which sits directly on top of the finger. Gallery 105 refers to the side profile of the ring head 102 situated between the basket 106 and donut 104. Optionally, gallery 105 includes smaller diamonds. Center stone 103 is situated within the basket 106.

Center stone 103 is made of gold, which may be of various purities that can be practically used in articles of jewelry, including 22 Karat (K), 18K, 14K or 10K, and may be of various shapes and sizes without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Other metal parts of the Luisa Alexander Goldstone™ ring are preferably made of gold, but can also be made from other precious metals such as platinum, silver or other precious metals and/or combination of materials without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Center stone 103 is shown as being rectangular octagon shaped, but center stone 103 may also take other shapes, e.g., round, princess cut, cushion cut, pearl, etc., without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Basket 106 is the tray in which center stone 103 is situated. In the present embodiment of FIG. 1 , basket 106 is illustrated as octagonal in shape. However, basket 106 may be in other shapes, such as round, square, etc. without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Gallery 105 is the area situated just below and adjacent to the basket 106 and refers to the side profile of the ring head 102. It can include optional small gemstones or precious metals for the purpose of enhancing the appearance and appeal of the Luisa Alexander Goldstone™ ring 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates an angled front view of a Luisa Alexander Goldstone™ wrist band 200 in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.

Luisa Alexander Goldstone™ wrist band 200 is made up of a number of connected elements 201. Each element 201 includes a top portion 202 and a bottom chain link 203. Decorative prong or stud 204 is situated on the border between elements 201. FIG. 2 shows top portion 202, which is shaped as a hexagonal prism, but it may be any other shape such as cylindrical, cubical, polygon, triangular, etc., without departing from the scope of present disclosure.

Top portion 202 is preferably made of gold, but can be made of other precious metals, such as platinum, silver, or suitable metal alloys without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Link Chain 203 is located on each side of the Luisa Alexander Goldstone™ wristband 200. Link Chain 203 is decorative and not structurally required. Link Chain 203 is made of gold, but can be made of other precious metals, such as platinum, silver, or suitable metal alloys without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Prong or stud 204 is a metal projection, typically used to position and secure a gemstone to a jewelry setting. In the present embodiment, prong 204 is included for decorative and not structural purposes. Prong 204 is preferably made of gold, but can be made of other precious metals, such as platinum, silver, or suitable metal alloys without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

As a person of ordinary skill in the art of the invention would appreciate, the scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular configurations of the articles, methods and steps described in the specification. Rather, articles, methods, or steps, which presently exist or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding configurations described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure.

Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such articles, methods, or steps.

The description of the disclosure provided herein is intended to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles disclosed herein may be applied to other variations of the disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples and designs described herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the applicable legal principles.

Although the present disclosure describes two embodiments in detail as exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, various modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be limited by the examples presented herein, but is intended to encompass the scope described in the accompanying claims and the range of equivalents of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An article of jewelry comprising a jewelry setting and stones: wherein the jewelry setting is made of metal; and wherein the stones are made of gold.
 2. The article of jewelry in accordance with claim 1, wherein the article of jewelry is a ring.
 3. The article of jewelry in accordance with claim 1, wherein the article of jewelry is a wrist band.
 4. The article of jewelry in accordance with claim 1, wherein the article of jewelry is a necklace.
 5. A jewelry ring comprising: a shank; a ring head, including a donut that is the bottom plate of metal at the base of a basket, which sits directly on top of the finger; gallery, as the side profile of the ring head situated between the basket and the donut; and a center stone which fits within the basket, wherein the center stone is made of gold.
 6. A jewelry wrist band comprising: a number of connected elements, each element comprising a top portion and a bottom chain link; the top portion is made of gold.
 7. A jewelry chain comprising: a chain; a bail, that is a loop that is used to attach a pendant or a charm to a chain or bead necklace; a bezel, which is the part that holds the stone; wherein the chain goes through the loop to attach the pendant, stone, or charm.
 8. The jewelry item of claim 1, wherein the stone is faceted
 9. The jewelry item of claim 1, wherein the stone is Cabochons.
 10. The jewelry item of claim 1, wherein the stone is faceted top Cabochon.
 11. A jewelry wrist band of claim 6, wherein a decorative prong or stud is situated on the border between the elements. 